CA tries out the split innings format

Cricket Australia has tried out the split-innings format in one-dayer for the first time in a practice match between South Australian Redbacks and Tasmanian Tigers at the Marrara Oval in Darwin.

In the match, which saw two innings of 20 overs each, Redbacks opted to bat first and posted 87 for four before the Tigers made 77 for four in reply.

Then the Tigers skittled out Redbacks for 145 and chased down the target to win the match by six wickets and 8.3 overs to spare yesterday.

The match was played 12-a-side along with the fielding restrictions - two outside the circle for the first five overs in both the innings, four outside the circle from sixth to 20th overs and five out from 26th overs to the end.

"There was some skepticism from the guys who have been around for a long time while the young guys were quite excited by it," Tasmania coach Tim Coyle told Cricinfo.

Coyle also feels that to succeed in the new format, the teams have to think a lot about their tactics and the final squad because the "stop and start" factor is going to be quite challenging.

"It is something good sides will find a way to get used to. Even though one game is not the ideal example, you can see that a team would need batting depth and bowling options," he said.

"It was worth having a go at the split innings. We might as well try this because when it gets into place in the future, we'll be at a slight advantage," he added.

Another CA proposal to have a 'super-striker' who could bat twice was, however, not tried out during the match.

The sides would give the country's cricket Board an informal de-brief before to the Cricket Australia's Playing Conditions Committee meeting later this week.

With the 50-over one-day version losing its spectator base in the wake of Twenty20 version, the former and current players including senior India batsman Sachin Tendulkar has already supported the idea of splitting the 50 over one-day matches into four innings of 20 overs each.